Ethical Leadership and Political Behavior in a National Government Agency as Predictors of Performance Among Public Sector Employees: A Sequential Explanatory Approach

Abstract

Public sector employees face growing demands to perform effectively in challenging and politically influenced work environments. This study examined how ethical leadership and political behavior predict employee performance in a national government agency. Using a sequential explanatory design, the research combined quantitative and qualitative approaches to capture both measurable relationships and lived experiences. The initial quantitative results revealed high levels of ethical leadership, political behavior, and employee performance. Regression analysis showed that both ethical leadership and political behavior significantly predict performance, with political behavior emerging as the stronger predictor. Following the qualitative phase, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted. Thematic analysis revealed five major themes: transparency and clear communication, fairness and equal treatment, flexibility and adaptability, integrity and role modeling, and commitment to public service on the Experiences of participants on ethical leadership, political behavior, and employee performance. Employees perceived that ethical leadership builds motivation and accountability through fairness, open communication, and transparency, while political behavior influences opportunities and exposure. Although politics sometimes fosters favoritism and unequal advancement, employees' flexibility, initiative, and resilience enable them to maintain productivity and commitment to public service. The study concludes that ethical leadership strengthens trust and organizational integrity, but political behavior exerts a greater impact on performance outcomes. In the joint display and integration of quantitative and qualitative results, it indicated that the nature of integration was connecting-confirmation, implying that the results of the quantitative phase were confirmed.